Quail Creek Field Trial Club 1-2-26 results
Open Shooting Dog Winners l to r, 1st- Warjam's Big Mac Daddy, 2nd - Fast Money, 3rd - Blazing Cora Of Dixie
The Quail Creek Field Trial Club started the new year hosting its inaugural field trial at Quail Creek Farm, owned by Ben & Emily Weddington, in Lewisburg, TN. The event consisted of a 2-day National Bird Hunters Association walking event followed immediately by a 2-day American Bird Hunters Association horseback event that drew 97 total dogs across the 4 days and brought together handlers, judges, scouts, and spectators in the gallery from 9 different states. The event reflected the deep traditions of bird dogs and field trials in the heart of Middle Tennessee’s walking horse country and featured a large gallery of spectators each day. Quail Creek provided an excellent setting for the trial, offering well-prepared grounds with large numbers of bobwhite quail and a course that flowed through a mixture of large row crop edges and fields of native grasses. Almost every single brace across the 4 days had bird contact, many with multiple covey finds. Many thanks to our seasoned dog wagon driver, Mr. Mike Griffin (OK), who’s invaluable services kept us running like a well-oiled machine. Thanks to everyone else who assisted and helped make our first time hosting an event such a success. Lastly, a giant thank you goes to Purina and to Greg Blair for sponsoring this trial and for supporting the great sport of field trialing around the country.
NBHA Open Walking Stakes
The NBHA Open Walking Stakes ran on Friday, January 2nd in cold, overcast conditions and kicked off our 4-days of running.
NBHA Walking – Open Shooting Dog
Beginning with the Open Shooting Dog stake, judged by Mr. Woody Woodruff (TN) and Mr. Kenton Bryant (KY), 15 dogs started at the line. Besting the field of competitors and taking home both the check and a custom silver belt buckle was Warjam’s Big Mack Daddy, a black and white male pointer owned by Brad Peterson of Cedar Grove, WI, handled by James Kleve of Paris, KY, and scouted by Mary Sue Schalk of Dixon, KY. Living up to his name, Big Mack Daddy ran a big race and quickly got into birds with his first stylish find coming at the 8-minute mark in a milo strip. From there, Big Mack continued to eat up the big country throughout the brace. In the final minute, Big Mack was 450 yards to the front, running the edge of a soybean field from left to right, still sporting a high snappy tail. As the final seconds ticked off the judges’ clocks, he slammed on point at the furthest end of the field and concluded his brace with an impressive 2nd find on a covey of birds for everyone to see. Hemingway himself couldn’t have penned a more exciting ending. Second place went to Fast Money, a liver and white female pointer handled by Justin Crook for owner Bud Moore who was almost methodical in both her ground race and bird finding ability, logging several stylish finds and never seeming to tire. Third place went to the GSP Blazing Cora of Dixie, owned and handled by Dustin Huggins of Russellville, Arkansas, who recorded several nice finds throughout her brace, including one sizable covey in a patch of native grasses, and was delightful to watch on the ground. Every brace of Open Shooting Dog found birds.
NBHA Walking – Open Derby
10 Derbies came to the line for the NBHA Open Derby stake that ran immediately following the Open Shooting Dog. First place was awarded to CCUK Tar Heel Duke, a black and white setter owned and handled by Bradley Collins of Athens, Tennessee, who was very stylish on the ground, ran a large race with a nice high tail, and recorded a couple finds in his 30 minutes. Duke was a pleasure to watch from the gallery and from the looks of it, should have a very successful field trial career in his future. James Kleve took second place with a fancy setter, Boatright’s Renegade, for owner Terry Boatright of Richmond, Kentucky. Crouse’s Grouse Feather and owner/handler Mary Sue Schalk took third place, recording several finds, handling well, and laying down a proper ground race.
NBHA Walking – Open Puppy
The Open Puppy stake ended the day with 8 entries that were turned loose. Topping the podium was the all-white female setter, Cloverdale’s Frozen Fury, owned and handled by Ben Weddington, who ran big for a young puppy and with lots of excitement. She carried a high snappy tail and recorded a find in the final five minutes of her brace that she pursued with no shortage of enthusiasm. CCUK Tar Heel Duke and Bradley Collins were on the podium for a 2nd time that same day, taking home 2nd place after a solid puppy brace. Third Place was awarded to Outcast Whiskey Neat, owned and handled by Mary Sue Schalk, who laid down a stylish forward race and sported an enthusiastic tail.
NBHA Walking – Amateur Shooting Dog
The NBHA Amateur Walking Stakes began on Saturday January 3rd, again with cold and overcast conditions.
The day started with 10 dogs making the starting line in the Amateur Shooting Dog stake, which was judged by professional handlers Mr. Justin Crook (MO) and Mr. James Kleve (KY). Topping the podium for the inaugural trial was the all-white female pointer, Miss Grace, owned and handled by Dan Crunk of Walnut Hill, Illinois. Grace was very stylish on the ground and was always to the front, running a big race with a snappy tail. Miss Grace didn’t waste any time getting to work and her first find came just 3 minutes after breakaway in a strip of milo. Ten minutes later she was pointed again, this time along a tree line separating 2 soybean fields, nailing down a large 15+ bird covey. Her 3rd and final find came in the final minutes of the brace after being absent for several minutes. Her scout was sent, who found her tucked along the edge of some native grasses standing tall on point. Birds were flushed, concluding her brace on a high and very stylish note. Second Place was awarded to Faith’s Maximum Justice, owned and handled by Kenny DeLong of Greenville, Michigan, who put forth a maximum effort in his time on the ground and quickly produced a find at minute 7. Justice ran every edge and was always to the front. Towards the end of the brace he appeared to be gone for some time, but as the gallery progressed further and further through a large soybean field, shouts of “Point! Point! Point!” echoed through the air and he was found standing like a statue at the furthest end of a large field. By the time his handler arrived the gallery estimated he’d been pointed for over 10 minutes, and it was evident the birds had run. His handler relocated and Justice quickly locked them down a bit further along the feed strip for an exciting finish to the brace. Mr. DeLong also took 3rd place honors on the day with his orange and white Brittany, Eagle Magnum Hotshot, who tore out from the breakaway like a round out of a 44 Magnum…fast and hot. A few minutes in, he was found on point in the corner, pinning down a small covey of 5 quail, with his bracemate honoring from behind. Ten minutes later, he pointed on the edge of a milo strip and despite his bracemate’s breach of manners, he held steady for an extended flush by Mr. DeLong that eventually produced a bird just as he began to send the dog on. He finished his allotted time still hunting hard.
NBHA Walking – Amateur Derby
The Amateur Derby stake produced 6 starters and ran immediately following the conclusion of the Shooting Dog. Besting the field and taking 1st place was the fancy female pointer, Lucy’s Just Have Mercy, owned and handled by Kenny DeLong. Mercy laid down a fantastic forward ground race and had multiple bird contacts throughout her 30 minutes. She demonstrated a large amount of natural ability coupled with a balance of both excitement and control, and should make a mighty fine finished dog next year. Second place went to Outcast Nightshade, a stylish black and white male setter owned and handled by Mary Sue Schalk. Nightshade was hard running from the time he was turned loose and never seemed to tire despite the very large casts he consistently made throughout the brace. Third place also went to owner/handler Mary Sue Schalk, but this time with her orange and white setter, Crouse’s Grouse Feather, who was biddable on the ground with several bird contacts.
NBHA Walking – Amateur Gun Dog
The day ended with the running of the Amateur Gun Dog Stake, which drew 6 dogs to the line and featured 1st time competitors for all 3 placements. First place was awarded to Sara Adams of Franklin, TN, who handled the orange and white male setter, Cloverdale’s American Louis, to top honors. He laid down an excellent ground race and recorded 3 stylish finds, thoroughly hunting all the most likely pieces of cover and handling well. Their bracemates Tyler Flatt and his GSP, Major, took 2nd place honors, also recording several finds. It was a highly entertaining brace to watch from the gallery, particularly the very first find, which came 5 minutes in. It was a divided find and both judges along with the gallery kindly assisted in giving each 1st-time handler a few pointers on proper protocol after point is called. As the covey of birds flushed and flew off out of sight, neither handler was ready with their blank pistol. After a bit of a pause, the two handlers made up for their prior inaction with excited enthusiasm once calls from the gallery of “Shoot! Shoot your gun!” grew louder and louder. Though a bit confused at first, both “appeared” to catch on with what had been asked of them and proceeded to nearly empty their blank guns for the 1 find…a feat that was met with cheers from all. Third place in the stake was awarded to Cloverdale’s GA Boy Copper, a very stylish orange and white male English Setter owned and handled by Matt Forigone of Brookhaven, Georgia. Copper ran a big forward race and showed excellent manners on his birds, holding point for an extended amount of time on birds tucked in a strip of milo bordering a soybean field.
Many thanks - to all!
The walking events concluded on Saturday afternoon. Many were on hand to help with food, dog wagon driving, taking care of children and keeping the trial in motion. The gratitude is abundant!
The National Bird Hunters Association is proudly sponsored and supported by the following - Purina, Garmin, Mule Brand Clothing, Gun Dog Central, The American Field by UKC, Gun Dog Supply and On X Hunts. These groups are much appreciated throughout field trials.
Quail Creek Field Trial Club 1-2-25 results
OPEN SHOOTING DOG
1st – Warjam’s Big Mac Daddy, PM; owner, Brad Peterson / handler, James Kleve
2nd – Fast Money, PF; owner, Bud Moore / handler, Justin Crook
3rd – Blazing Cora Of Dixie, GSPF; owner / handler, Dustin Huggins
OPEN DERBY
1st – CCUK Tar Heel Duke, SM; owner / handler, Bradley Collins
2nd – Boatrights Renegade, SM; owner, Terry Boatright / handler, James Kleve
3rd – Crouse’s Grouse Feather, SM; owner, Crouse & Schalk / handler, Mary Schalk
OPEN PUPPY
1st – Cloverdale’s Frozen Fury, SF; owner / handler, Ben Weddington
2nd – CCUK Tar Heel Duke, SM; owner / handler, Bradley Collins
3rd – Outcast Whiskey Neat, PM; owner, Schalk & Kleve / handler, Mary Schalk
AMATEUR SHOOTING DOG
1st – Miss Grace, PF; owner / handler, Dan Crunk
2nd – Faith’s Maximum Justice, PM; owner / handler, Kenric DeLong
3rd – K Del’s Eagle Magnum Hotshot, BM; owner / handler, Kenric DeLong
AMATEUR DERBY
1st Lucy’s Just have Mercy, PF; owner / handler, Kenric DeLong
2nd – Outcast Nightshade, SM; owner / handler, Mary Sue Schalk
3rd – Crouse’s Grouse Feather, SM; owner, Crouse & Schalk / handler, Mary Schalk
AMATEUR GUN DOG
1st – Cloverdale’s American Louis, SM; owner, Ben Weddington / handler, Sara Adams
2nd – Major, GSPM; owner / handler, Tyler Flatt
3rd – Cloverdale’s Ga Boy Copper, SM; owner / handler, Matthew Forgione
